Police fear ‘draconian’ new protest laws could increase danger to officers and damage public confidence

New bill would enable the suspicionless stop and search of peaceful protesters and make ‘locking on’ a crime

(PA) (PA Archive)

Police fear that controversial new protest powers could put them in danger and damage public confidence.

Senior officers did not request large parts of the new Public Order Bill and were not formally consulted by the government, The Independent understands.

The bill would create a new criminal offence of “locking on” and orders to ban people from demonstrating if they have not committed a crime.